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Onboarding Guide iOS

About this Guide​

This onboarding guide is designed to support iOS developers who have partnered with Aptoide Connect through our Business Development team and are preparing to distribute their iOS apps through Aptoide iOS App Store.

Its main objectives are to:

  • Provide a clear, step-by-step overview of the technical and operational onboarding process.
  • Align expectations between developers and Aptoide teams.
  • Ensure a smooth and efficient integration and launch.

What is Aptoide Connect?​

Aptoide Connect is the access point for alternative app distribution on Android and iOS, designed to help developers expand their reach across multiple alternative app stores, including leading partners such as Aptoide, Xiaomi, and others, reaching over 50 million monthly active users.

The distribution workflow within Aptoide Connect is built to be simple and efficient, requiring minimal engineering effort while enabling distribution at scale across multiple stores.

By integrating with the Aptoide Billing SDK, developers can benefit from a payout rate of up to 90% on in-app purchases, along with enhanced visibility through priority search placement and featured promotions across partner stores.

To learn more about our offering, visit our official website and the About Us section of this documentation.

Communication Channels​

Before or after the onboarding call, your Account Manager will set up dedicated communication channels to support you throughout the integration process and ensure fast, efficient collaboration.

Our preferred communication channels are:

  • Private Slack channel (preferred)
  • WeChat group
  • Telegram group

If your team prefers to use a different platform, please let your Account Manager know.

To streamline communication, the Account Manager will include representatives from the relevant teams, including:

  • Operations
  • Technical Support
  • Marketing & Featuring
  • Business & Sales

Before the technical integration begins, and if needed, we can schedule an additional onboarding call to:

  • Provide an end-to-end overview of the integration process
  • Run a live walkthrough of the Aptoide Connect Console
  • Address any technical, operational, or business-related questions

Kickoff Questionaire​

Before we begin the integration, if you haven't already done so, please provide the following information for your apps. Your answers will help us plan your integration efficienty and optimize your app’s launch on Aptoide and partner stores.

Required Information:

  1. App Bundle ID: What is the Bundle ID of the application you’re integrating?
  2. Integration Start Date: When would you like to start the integration process?
  3. Expected Launch Date: What is the planned release date for your app/game on Aptoide?
  4. Automatic Submission: Will you use the same build for both Aptoide and the App Store, and enable automatic version notifications in App Store Connect? (We strongly recommend this to ensure faster updates and smoother releases.)
  5. Social Logins: Does your app support social login options (e.g., Google, Facebook)?
  6. Non-Consumable Items: Does your app include any non-consumable items (e.g., subscriptions, one-time purchases)?

Onboarding Process​

iOS onboarding process flow diagram
  1. Register on Aptoide Connect
  2. Add Your App on Aptoide Connect
  3. Connect your App to Aptoide on App Store Connect
  4. Prove App Ownership on Aptoide Connect
  5. Integrate Our Billing SDK
  6. Submit Your Build on App Store Connect
  7. Your Build is Reviewed By Us
  8. Your App Goes Live on Aptoide

Register on Aptoide Connect​

Create your account at https://connect.aptoide.com/register. You can sign up using an email and password or authenticate with your Google account.

After registering and accepting the Certified Developer Distribution Agreement and the Terms and Conditions, complete your company profile by providing:

  • Company name
  • Company address
  • Country of incorporation

To ensure account security, we strongly recommend enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) using email, SMS, or an authentication app.

Explore our Documentation​

Use our documentation to guide your integration and become familiar with the key components of Aptoide Connect, including billing, account management, and performance optimization.

We recommend starting with the following resources:

  • Developer Console Overview
    Get familiar with the available menus and the information you will be able to access in the Aptoide Connect Developer Console once your apps are live.
  • User Access Management
    Learn how to grant access to multiple users within the same Aptoide Connect account, allowing teams to collaborate securely without sharing credentials.
  • Billing SDK
    Discover how to implement in-app purchases using the Aptoide Billing SDK.

Add Your Apps​

Adding apps to Aptoide Connect is a simple and streamlined process. For a complete walkthrough, refer to our dedicated documentation page. Below is a summary of the main steps.

  1. In the top navigation bar, click Add App.
  2. Click Add iOS App.
  3. Provide your app’s bundle id (e.g. com.example).
  4. Click Next to continue. You will be redirected to the app submission form, where you will be asked to provide all relevant technical and store information about your app.

Connect your App to Aptoide on App Store Connect​

To distribute your app through Alternative Marketplaces such as Aptoide, you must first connect it to those marketplaces in App Store Connect.

Before the marketplace connection option becomes available, please ensure that you have completed the following prerequisites:

  • For distribution in EU: Sign the Alternative Terms Addendum Complete and submit the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU: https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/alternative-eu-terms-addendum/
  • For distribution in Japan or Brazil: Accept the Latest Apple Developer Program Agreement Make sure you have accepted the most recent Apple Developer Program License Agreement, which includes the Additional Terms for iOS Apps in Japan and Brazil (this is required for all developers).
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The option to connect to Alternative Marketplaces will only appear in App Store Connect after both agreements have been accepted.

Once the prerequisites are completed refer to our dedicated documentation page on how to add Aptoide as a Marketplace in App Store Connect.

When connecting to Aptoide, make sure that automatic notifications are enabled. This allows Aptoide to automatically detect new builds and publish the latest version of your app without delays.

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We strongly recommend enabling notifications to ensure faster releases and smoother updates.

For detailed instructions, refer to our dedicated documentation page

Prove Ownership of Your Apps​

Verifying app ownership is a required step to ensure that you are authorized to submit and distribute your applications on Aptoide Connect.

For detailed instructions refer to our dedicated documentation page.

Implement Our Billing Solution​

iOS Billing SDK purchase flow diagram

The Aptoide iOS Billing SDK provides a simple and reliable way to integrate Aptoide Connect billing into your iOS applications.

The SDK includes a billing client that allows you to retrieve your in-app products from Aptoide Connect and securely process purchase transactions.

In Summary​

The billing flow in your application with the SDK is as follows:

  1. Setup connection with Aptoide iOS Billing SDK;
  2. Query In-App Products from Aptoide iOS Billing SDK;
  3. End-user wants to buy a product on your app;
  4. Application launches Payment via Aptoide iOS Billing SDK;
  5. The Aptoide iOS Billing SDK handles the payment and, on completion, calls back your application;
  6. Application validates the legitimacy of the transaction via server-side purchase validation;
  7. Application gives the product to the end-user;
  8. Application notifies via server-side that the product was consumed.

For implementation details, configuration guidelines, and best practices, refer to our dedicated documentation page.

Best Practices​

Ensure In-App Shop Price Coherence​

Make sure the price and currency displayed in your in-game shop match what users see at checkout in the Aptoide Wallet.

To achieve this, use our Billing SDK to query in-app products and display the same pricing information. Refer to our documentation for details on how to fetch in-app products correctly.

Fill out the App Submission Form​

After adding your app to your Aptoide Connect account, you will be redirected to the app submission form, where you can provide the necessary information to publish your app.

App Information & Assets​

You will need to provide the following required information:

Submit Your First Version​

Once your app is connected to Aptoide, you can submit your first version for review and publication.

Automatic Submission (Recommended)

If you enabled marketplace notifications when connecting to Aptoide in App Store Connect (strongly recommended), all new versions published after activation will be:

  • Automatically sent to Aptoide;
  • Processed faster, with no manual action required.

This is the easiest and most efficient way to keep your app up to date.

Manual Submission (If Notifications Were Not Enabled)

If you need to submit a version that was published before enabling notifications, you can submit it manually:

  1. Go to Aptoide Connect;
  2. Navigate to Apps > Your Application > Submit New Version;
  3. Enter the Alternative Distribution Package ID.

This ID tells Aptoide which version to retrieve from App Store Connect.

How to Find the Alternative Distribution Package ID

To locate the correct Alternative Distribution Package ID:

  1. Go to App Store Connect;
  2. Go to Apps > Your App > Distribution > History;
  3. Find the relevant version in the list;
  4. Copy the Alternative Distribution Package ID displayed for that version.

For detailed instructions refer to our dedicated documentation page.

Your Build is Reviewed By Us​

At this stage, the Operations Team will review your app’s technical implementation and content, and test all critical flows, including in-app purchases.

If any issues are identified during the review process, the team will promptly notify you so we can troubleshoot and resolve them as quickly as possible.

As a best practice, we recommend submitting your app for review at least one week before the planned release date to allow sufficient time for validation and potential fixes.

App Goes Live​

Once the app successfully passes all QA checks, the Operations Team will approve it for release.

FAQs​

Which users are eligible to access Alternative Distribution on iOS?​

Users in the EU, Japan, or Brazil are eligible if they meet the following criteria:

  • Their Apple Account country or region is set to an EU member state, Japan, or Brazil, and they are physically located in that region.
  • When users travel outside their region (EU, Japan, or Brazil), they retain the following capabilities:
    • Open and use apps previously installed through alternative distribution
    • Update apps from alternative distribution for up to 90 days after departure
    • Manage previously installed apps through alternative distribution
  • When users travel outside their region (EU, Japan, or Brazil), they lose the following capabilities:
    • Install new alternative app marketplaces or new apps through alternative distribution

What capabilities does Alternative Distribution provide to users?​

  • In the EU:

    • Install alternative app marketplaces on iPhone and iPad
    • Install iOS and iPadOS apps from alternative app marketplaces
    • Install iOS and iPadOS apps directly from developer websites

  • In Japan and Brazil:

    • Install alternative app marketplaces on iPhone
    • Install iOS apps from alternative app marketplaces

Are the alternative distribution requirements identical for the EU, Japan, and Brazil?​

No. While the EU, Japan, and Brazil share similar foundational requirements, there are important differences in regional regulations and legal agreements that developers must navigate separately. Japan and Brazil follow the same rules, which differ from the EU's.

What agreements must I sign to enable alternative distribution?​

For the EU: Sign the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU (https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/alternative-eu-terms-addendum/).

For Japan and Brazil: Accept the latest version of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement (the default mandatory agreement that all Apple developers must sign), which includes the Additional Terms for iOS Apps in Japan and Brazil.

What are the business terms for alternative distribution in the EU?​

When you adopt the EU Alternative Terms Addendum:

  • New Apple commissions for purchases inside the Apple App Store:
    • Reduced App Store commission: 10% or 17% on digital goods and services
      • 17% is the standard commission rate
      • 10% applies to Small Business Program participants and subscription renewals after the first year
    • Optional payment processing fee: +3% applies only when using Apple's payment processing on the App Store
  • Core Technology Fee (CTF): €0.50 per First Annual Install for apps exceeding 1 million installs per year (exemptions apply for apps with no monetization)

If you retain the original App Store terms:

  • You maintain Apple's standard 30%/15% commission structure
  • You cannot access alternative app marketplaces or alternative payment options
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Apple previously announced plans to transition from the Core Technology Fee (CTF) to the Core Technology Commission (CTC) model by January 1, 2026. This transition remains pending, and the CTF continues to apply to EU alternative distribution.

What are the business terms for distribution in Japan and Brazil?​

Apple has introduced mandatory new commission structures for all developers on the Japan and Brazil App Stores, with an optional alternative distribution channel:

Japan and Brazil App Stores:

Developers must choose one of the following payment options, each with its own commission structure:

  • Apple's In-App Purchase: 26% total (21% commission + 5% payment processing)
    • Reduced to 15% total for Small Business Program participants, Video/Mini Apps Partner Program participants, and subscription renewals beyond year 1
  • Alternative Payment Processing: 21% commission (reduced to 10% for qualifying transactions)
  • Out-of-App Offers: 15% commission on sales completed within 7 days of an external link (reduced to 10% for qualifying transactions)

Alternative Distribution:

Developers may distribute apps through Alternative App Marketplaces in Japan and Brazil:

  • Core Technology Commission: 5% on all digital goods and services sales in apps distributed through alternative marketplaces, including website sales initiated within 7 days from links in those apps

Who is responsible for paying Apple’s 5% CTC commission in Japan and Brazil?​

Apple’s current 5% CTC commission for digital sales through alternative marketplaces in Japan and Brazil is paid by the developer. While this fee is still subject to ongoing regulatory discussion and could potentially be reduced in the future, it remains applicable under the current rules today.

What is the review process for apps distributed through alternative marketplaces?​

Apps exclusively distributed through Alternative App Marketplaces (not on the App Store) undergo Notarization rather than full App Review. Notarization is a streamlined security process that verifies apps are free of known malware, viruses, and security threats, ensures they function as promised, and protects users from egregious fraud. This process has fewer restrictions compared to the full App Store review process.

Will my application pass Notarization?​

Provided your app is not a security threat to users, it will most likely be approved.

What is the typical review timeframe for iOS applications on Aptoide?​

Most applications are reviewed and approved within two business days.

Should I maintain separate builds for Aptoide and the App Store?​

No. We strongly recommend using a single unified build for both distribution channels.

Benefits of a unified build:

  • Built-in distribution detection: The AppCoinsSDK provides an .isAvailable method that returns true for alternative distribution and false for App Store distribution, allowing you to programmatically distinguish between channels
  • Reduced maintenance overhead: Eliminates the need to manage separate branches, builds, or deployment pipelines
  • Lower error rate: Maintaining multiple builds increases the risk of code inconsistencies, synchronization issues, and platform-specific bugs

How do I test my in-app purchases?​

You can test in-app purchases using the Sandbox environment available in Aptoide Connect.

To perform IAP testing:

  1. Use the AppCoins SDK to log and retrieve your testing Wallet address.
  2. Add your testing Wallet address in the Sandbox section of the Developer Console.
  3. Use this Wallet address to perform test purchases within your app.

For detailed setup instructions and testing guidelines, refer to our documentation.

Which currencies are currently supported by the Aptoide Connect billing for in-app purchases?​

In-app purchases are currently supported in the following currencies:

Currency CodeCurrency Name
USDUS Dollar
AUDAustralian Dollar
BRLBrazilian Real
CADCanadian Dollar
CHFSwiss Franc
CLPChilean Peso
CNYChinese Yuan
CZKCzech Koruna
DKKDanish Krone
EUREuro
GBPBritish Pound
HKDHong Kong Dollar
HUFHungarian Forint
IDRIndonesian Rupiah
ILSIsraeli Shekel
INRIndian Rupee
JPYJapanese Yen
KRWSouth Korean Won
MXNMexican Peso
MYRMalaysian Ringgit
NOKNorwegian Krone
NZDNew Zealand Dollar
PHPPhilippine Peso
PKRPakistani Rupee
PLNPolish Zloty
RUBRussian Ruble
SEKSwedish Krona
SGDSingapore Dollar
THBThai Baht
TRYTurkish Lira
TWDNew Taiwan Dollar
ZARSouth African Rand
BGNBulgarian Lev
COPColombian Peso
EGPEgyptian Pound
KZTKazakhstani Tenge
NGNNigerian Naira
PENPeruvian Sol
QARQatari Riyal
RONRomanian Leu
SARSaudi Riyal
TZSTanzanian Shilling
AEDUAE Dirham
VNDVietnamese Dong
UAHUkrainian Hryvnia

How often will I receive my in-app purchases share?​

You will receive your in-app purchases revenue whenever you request a withdrawal from your Aptoide Connect account.

Withdrawals are initiated directly from the Developer Console. Once requested, the payout will be processed according to the configured payment method and applicable processing timelines.

For detailed instructions, refer to our documentation.